The Oracle Speaks: Part 1 of a Weekend Series

I would like to request a special feature done on Robert Swift of the Seattle Sonics. I feel that the East Coast bias is depriving most of the United States of one of the great national treasures along with the Internet and Patrick Swayze. --Matt in Seattle

First Matt, I'd like to thank you for this request, which I am happy to grant. You are certainly dead on in your assessment of the effects that the East Coast media bias can have on an up-and-coming player's exposure. Sure, players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Greg Oden have been able to maintain a high profile despite playing (or, at least being under contract with in Oden's case) for Western Conference teams. However, there are plenty of guys (Kevin Martin and LaMarcus Aldridge come to mind) who are not getting the type of national attention that they would if they were playing on the East Coast. In the case of Robert Swift, I think that his relative anonymity is more a product of his inability to stay healthy than anything else. After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Swift has been on the shelf this seaon since November with knee and heel troubles. In the five games that he has played, Swift is averaging 1.6 points and 3 rebounds per game. Surely, you'd like to see more production from a center that is over 7 feet tall. Furthermore, Head Coach PJ Carlesimo has been outspoken about Swift needing to shed some of the weight that he has put on over the past two off-seasons. The fans from Boston would like to warn Swift to heed Carlesimo's advice. Otherwise this: could soon become this:
Perhaps the East Coast media bias is what's keeping Robert Swift from becoming a household name. But, I think that this guy needs to at least make it to Christmas healthy before we can really know what kind of star potential he has. Unless that happens, fans in New York, Detroit, Cleveland, and Miami may never know the name Robert Swift. In fact, they may confuse it with Stromile Swift. They may think that Robert Swift has not played an integral role in shaping the state of the NBA in 2007. They couln't be more wrong............

You see Matt, to the people in Boston, Robert Swift is a somebody. In fact, he's more than a somebody. He's a beacon of hope and good fortune. The name Robert Swift serves as a reminder to Celtics fans that no matter how incompetent the people managing your organization may be, there are always team executives out there who are equally or maybe even more incompetent. Because of this, the law of averages tells us that our team will indeed reap the benefits of other inept NBA executives from time to time. Still confused? Let me explain.

You see Matt, the Celtics right now are 20-3, and people all over Boston are singing the praises of Danny Ainge. Suddenly it all makes sense they say. We see what his plan has been all along. Well, the bottom line is that Danny Ainge fell ass-backwards into this good fortune. Look, as a credit to him, he remained true to his rebuilding system all along, refusing to compromise any pieces of his young core for crowd-pleasers such as Allen Iverson. I'm sure that these moves were tempting, and would have temporarily aleviated the pressure from the fans. But, they would not have put this team in a position to win a championship. Because Ainge held on to these young players, he was able to acquire Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. However, it has been well documented that the Timberwolves had much better offers for Garnett from a couple of Western Conference teams (I believe the best one was from Golden State). However, McHale chose to trade Garnett to Boston. Why would he do this? Why wouldn't he make the best move for his team? All signs point to the fact that he didn't want to move Garnett to another Western Conference team. Well, that is textbook incompetent GM strategy. Look, we're not talking about refusing to trade him to a division rival whom you might be battling for the top spot. We're talking about refusing to trade him to HALF OF THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE when you suck and aren't going to be competing for anything. If McHale had made the best trade for his team, the Celtics would be left without Garnett, which would have certainly meant no Eddie House or James Posey. Now, take last years team, add Ray Allen. The Celtics would be better, but certainly nowhere near as good as they are now. So, who do we really have to thank here? Certainly, Danny Ainge's role can't be discounted, but this would have never been possible were it not for McHale's incompetence.

Now, I realize that this is really long, and the last paragraph had nothing to do with Swift. But, you asked for a feature. So, you're getting a feature. Keep reading.

Now, let's take a stroll down memory lane. The date, June 24, 2004. The place, Madison Square Garden. I'm talking of course about the 2004 NBA draft. While most national sports analysts were busy debating about whether the Orlando Magic would select Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard with the number 1 overall pick, sportswriters in Boston were reporting that Celtics GM Danny Ainge was absolutely smitten with a young seven footer from California: Robert Swift. In fact, ESPN.com's mock draft projected the Celtics taking Swift at 15, and says "if he makes it all the way to 15, the Celtics will definitely not pass on him. This pick has been in the works for months." The scout.com mock draft predicted the same choice and said "Celtics GM Danny Ainge reportedly loves Swift, and for good reason." Everyone knew it, the pick was a sure thing. Ainge and Swift were in love. And, really who can blame Danny here, let's take a look at Swift's air-tight resume at that point:

-Swift switched between three different schools in two years. He transfered from Garces Memorial High School to Highland High School after his junior year, and then to Bakersfield High School right before his senior year began. This seems sketchy.

-All of this transfering caused the California Interscholastic Federation to suspend him for the 03-04 season (his senior season). The decision was later overturned.

-A Seattle Times piece from June 28, 2004 by Percy Allen (note: the article was released after the draft, but NBA scouts and executives were privy to all of this information) read "His family's motives have been questioned and his former high-school coach was forced to resign as rumors swirl about recruitment and alleged improprieties."

- The following is a list of the creeds that appear atop the websites of the three high schools that Swift attended, in order.
First (Garces): "California's premeir high school."
Second (Highland): "Challenging students to acheive excellence."
Third (Bakersfield): "Once a driller, always a driller." Does this raise any questions about intelligence? Perhaps a wonderlic test is in order.

- Swift would be the first white player to be picked straight from high school, which would serve to further the unfair stereotype about the Celtics organization. (great article on ESPN.com by JA Adande about this misperception).

-Finally, this is a guy who did everything he could to avoid working out for NBA teams. The fact that he was doing this knowing that it would be a huge strike against him suggests that he was trying to hide some serious shortcomings. Brandan Wright and Chairman Yi both refused competitive workouts, but at least the scouts saw Wright against top-tier college talent and Yi against NBA talent in international play.

Now, everything that I just wrote on that resume is true, but bullshit at the same time. I mean, it's all true, but I don't actually think that these (aside from avoiding workouts) were legitimate reasons to pass on Swift. I'm just trying to show my dramatic side so that maybe I can be hired by a major network to work as a scab during the writers strike. But, I'm sure that none of this really factored in to why Danny Ainge was so fond of Swift. In reality, Swift had to leave Garces, a catholic school, because of some financial issues. So, he made the natural transition to Highland High School, and then realized that Bakersfield had the best basketball program (which makes sense, since he was planning on either attending USC on a basketball scholarship or playing in the NBA). But, regardless of the reasons, Danny Ainge wanted Robert Swift in the worst way. Well, maybe not the worst way. But, he really wanted him.

Danny would never have the oppurtunity to draft young Robert, who was taken by Seattle with the twelfth overall pick. Chad Ford's analysis of the Sonics pick reads: "Danny Ainge is crying his eyes out. At least we think so. The Celtics and Jazz were both trying to move up to get Swift so it's possible that this is a trade. However, it sounds like the Sonics are determined to keep him." That's right, determined to keep him. In his 2004 NBA draft diary, Bill Simmons (wiser than his peers as always) says of the pick "8:43 -- Thank God ... the Sonics just took Robert Swift, the high school center who looks like a cross between Fred Weis and Eric Montross. Of course, the Celtics loved him. Talk about dodging a bullet. Any time someone is avoiding workouts, all-star games, even interviews ... is this ever a good sign?" The rest Matt, as they say, is history. The Celtics never got Robert Swift on June 24, 2004. However, they did get Al Jefferson, Delonte West, and Tony Allen. Jefferson and West, both fan favorites during their time in Boston, were key pieces in the acquisitions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. So you see Matt, without Robert Swift somehow making himself attractive enough to warrant a selection at number 12 by the Sonics, none of what's happening right now in Boston would be possible.

Finally, I would just like to say that you may be right about Swift being a national treasure. I doubt he'll be one in the United States, but there are many great oppurtunities for him in Europe. I can't help but liken Swift to an ex-Sonic (and an ex-Celtic), Marty Conlon. Conlon averaged 2.7 points per game in 45 appearances for Seattle during the 1991-1992 season. So, they seem to have similar playing styles (although clearly Swift is lacking some of Conlon's durability). Conlon, although never finding great success as an NBA star, did serve as the co-captain of the Irish National Basketball team. I'm not sure how this happened, because he was born in New York. But, I read it, and I have even found a roster that confirms it here (you have to copy and paste it into your browser because I don't know how to put links in here): http://www.britball.com/irelandmen050804.html . The possibilities for Swift include, but are not limited to, Germany, France, England, Russia, and Hungary. Only time will tell Matt, but you may be right. Robert Swift may indeed be a national treasure.

Thanks for the e-mail,
NL